During the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year holiday, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh (Hien Quan commune, Phu Tho province) took the opportunity to arrange time to visit relatives in Yen Bai ward, Lao Cai city.
According to Ms. Minh, the first days of the year often have many reunion meals, and alcohol consumption is unavoidable. Worried about affecting safety when driving long distances herself, she decided to hire a taxi to travel a distance of more than 70km instead of taking a private car.
Going on crowded Tet days, and possibly having to drink alcohol, I choose to take a taxi for peace of mind. It's less tiring and also ensures safety for the whole family" - Ms. Minh shared.
She said that the car rental price ranges from 1.5-2 million VND for both trips, depending on the time and type of car. Although the cost is higher than usual, she still accepts it because she prioritizes convenience and safety in the early spring.
During the 2026 Lunar New Year, when many families gather, Mr. Tran Duy Khanh - a taxi driver in Phu Tho is still busy receiving customers from the 1st to the 4th day of Tet.
According to Mr. Khanh, this year the demand for renting cars with drivers has increased sharply, especially in the context that people are concerned about alcohol concentration violations and traffic pressure at the beginning of the year.
He said that most customers rent cars to go for Tet greetings, spring trips or visit relatives in neighboring localities, the common distance is from 70-100km.
Many families determine that they will drink alcohol at parties at the beginning of the year, so they do not want to drive themselves. They choose to hire drivers to feel more secure, avoid risks and also reduce stress when the roads are crowded" - he said.
On the afternoon of the 2nd day of Lunar New Year (February 18), the Traffic Police Department (CSGT) of the Ministry of Public Security said that during the day, local police inspected, discovered and handled 5,668 violations; temporarily seized 84 cars, 2,758 motorbikes, 95 other vehicles; revoked 273 driver's licenses (GPLX) of all kinds; deducted points from GPLX 1,490 cases.
Among them, violations of alcohol concentration 2,812 cases; speed violations 745 cases; carrying overloaded goods 1 case; carrying more people than prescribed 9 cases; picking up and dropping off passengers in the wrong places 2 cases; using phones and other electronic devices while driving 15 cases...
Results of patrols and inspections, handling violations on National Highway 1A: Traffic police forces controlled 7,217 vehicles (321 passenger cars, 380 trucks, 1,696 cars, 92 container trucks, 4,748 motorbikes, 80 other vehicles); detected and made records of handling 653 violations (25 passenger cars, 17 trucks, 90 cars, 515 motorbikes, 6 other vehicles); deducted points, revoked driver's licenses in 244 cases, temporarily seized 291 vehicles. Among them, alcohol concentration violations 271 cases; drug violations 1 case; speeding violations 15 cases; driving in the wrong lane, lane 24 cases.
